A great honour to be invited to judge my breed, that I have loved for over 40 years, at this prestigious show. Mixed emotions  stepping  out on to that magical green carpet. The Crufts atmosphere is electric. A long day that passes at supersonic speed....but I enjoyed every single minute of it; so  many LOVELY LOVELY DOGs and in all classes I was able to find dogs that appealed to my eye & fitted my interpretation of our breed standard.  Limit & Open were a sight to behold & invariably good dogs went cardless in such a high level of competition, just personal preference & performance on the day in making my decision. Thank you to everyone who made this such a SPECIAL day for me. not the least the DOGS & a  special THANKs to my 2 excellent stewards who kept everything going so well in the ring enabling me to get on with the job. I enjoyed deliberating with my co-judge for the final decisions; we both liked each others representatives and elected for the referee Liz Cartledge to make the final decision  choosing  the dog  CH SARAKHAN SENATOR JW. To represent the breed for BOB. Best Puppy was a unanimous decision, an absolutely cracking bitch puppy  SAXONMILL MIDNIGHT MUSE who must  surely have a bright future on her performance today..

VETERAN DOG. 14-5.

1.Greening's METEWAND CABANGO :SHCM. It was this dog's superb free striding action that took him into the top spot, he floated around the ring belittling his 9yrs; such a well constructed s/masked cream who presents a lovely clean balanced outline; head plainer than I personally prefer but could not be denied and still moving with as much verve in the challenge at the end of the day.

2.Odell's  KABELLA OBERON AT SUKESHI, an old favourite  of excellent breed type who I have judged at various ages, now in his 11th year &,in wonderful bloom & hard condition. Natural breed arrogance; he too moves soundly & correctly, albeit not quite the panache of the winner.

3. Mc Phillips CH TULAK THE PATRIOT AT DARGAI:SCHM. I greatly admire this dog, having awarded him his crowning CC some years back my opinion of him has not changed, wonderful breed type & carries his years lightly but today sadly he was not moving so well but a most worthy Champion of superlative breed type.

SPECIAL PUPPY DOG: 12-4.

This puppy class really gave me great faith for the future, a lovely class of babies to judge, all at differing stages of their development.

1 Young &  West's  ANDIZHAN BAAL AT SHROBANA.: 10 mths: B/m cream, from a  good litter, 3 placed in this class today. This boy scored with his lovely head shape  under all that puppy fuzz, dark eye of correct triangular shape & set; superb front assembly with depth to chest & spring of rib, beautifully balanced &  movement  was  very collected, sound & true .

2.Hall's SAXONMILL MIDNIGHT COWBOY.  gold grizzle, a lovely houndy dog  of a type that was instantly  recognisable to me, greatly appealed. Rangier than the winner in outline  & looking somewhat raw in development beside him although a few months older but another beautifully made dog. He has a lovely lean chiselled head & good jaw, excellent expression; he moves so well with light springy action and with his natural coat pattern nothing is hidden, must have a bright future with maturity. Litter mate to BIB Puppy.                                                                                                  

3. Kemp's ANZIZHAN BANJALUCAL TO SUZAPH. another impressive youngster, litter brother to winner & same remarks apply, but a little less forward in development.at this stage. A mischievous puppy in wonderful bloom,  excellent front assembly; well boned, good depth to chest; a little less settled in moving but greatly enjoying his day & this is how it should be; another with much promise.

SPECIAL JUNOR DOG: 8-2

1.Kirwan's ZENDUSHKAS VIEJO: An exciting young dog of excellent type who  stopped me in my tracks as he so greatly resembled his sire  when  I judged  him at a similar age, he just has a black overcoat, and what a coat. That same wild & wilful  look & wonderful eye & expression that is so familiar to me from his  sire's blood lines. He is well constructed, still needing to develop in some areas but is young and this will come. He presents a lovely balance  in outline. Moves out with a powerful stride, once he gets himself under control can really use himself. I think he has good potential.

 2.Parker & Hitch's ZENDUSHKAS GLENMORANGIE: . Litter brother, another black of much appeal & similar in type, again not a big lad but well balanced & giving a good account of himself. Happy free mover. These two from another good litter.

3. Wilson & Brownless’  RYDBERGS BEYOND ALL LIMITS FOR TOLAH. S/m gold dog of lovely type who very much appealed  in his outline & balance, looking raw to those above him, he has a wonderful free striding action, springy  effortless gait, clean outline, good shoulder angulation, length of neck & body proportions.  natural saddle, bare pasterns.  I wrote in my rough notes VERY promising.

YEARLING DOG  8.

Griffin's ASHAHNI AJMAL AT LAZAKHAN JW.

Excellent class  little separated first 5. Some lovely youngsters,several litter mates, to winner, another interesting  litter. This black & silver like my previous class winner is not  at the top end of our  height standard, again so beautifully balanced, good head shape with  dark eye of correct set & shape presenting a  typical expression, good neck length to well placed shoulder, sound in front, well proportioned body, fallway & ringed tail completes the picture. Strode out with drive & flair. One for the top draw with maturity.

2.Murphy's BELAMBA FOOLS GOLD. What a lovely young dog this is:  b/m cream , instantly appealed, loved his  head & expression, has an excellent front assembly,  depth to chest  and  ribbing, in hard condition, well muscled  & in great bloom; once he settled his movement was text book & has a lovely frontal reach with drive from his powerful  rear . Well handled to show off his potential.

3. Winter's ASHAHNI AZZAM WITH TOKANDO.JW

Another of much promise, litter brother to winner, less mature in  development  and at an inbetween stage  but again same excellent  construction with depth, balanced & good in all angles, moves with style.

Undergraduate Dog.9-1.

1.ZENDUSHKAS VIEJO.

2.Metcalfe's PAHLEVI ABRAXUS. 2 yr old black/tan, well presented dog with a hugh coat, beneath  sound construction in body, just needs to fill the frame in body weight but this  will develop;  good overall balance, loved his head & the beard, good expression; stylish action.

3.ZENDUSHKAS GLENMORANGIE.

GRADUATE DOG 12.

1. Wilson's CUBANBA REGULUS. My “find” of the day. This  lovely shaped golden boy with his  natural coat pattern & gleaming gold saddle caught my eye just as soon as I asked the class to move around the ring , he had such a natural stride in action & appeared to float effortlessly around the ring; he did not disappoint when I got my hands on him; he is such a beautifully balanced dog, excelling in head shape, eye & expression; scores in length of shoulder blade and frontal assembly,  level top line, good ribbing & depth, my hands just seemed to flow over him; gaiting around the ring solo he came into his own. He really impressed & was in serious consideration for the RCC, just needs a little more maturity but one who must surely gain top honours with time on his side. Good Luck.

2.Fincham's YOUSSEF AL DAOUD(imp) This lovely  houndy blue dog was another who scored with his effortless  movement ; another well  constructed dog who I found my eye continually going back to; he  was handled  expertly to get the best from him, he just seemed to get better and better as he strode out in his class. In excellent physical & coat bloom, well muscled  quarters which he used to advantage.

3.Young & West's PAHLEVI ASHBY AT SHIROBANA.

You really have to get your hands under this dog’s profuse beautifully presented black & cream coat to find his excellent well made frame, I do not envy his owner, having had similar coat with an old favourite of mine of yesteryear who was once called a "Coat Making Machine" by the late Don Wieden & this dog certainly lives up to that term. Another who has ring presence & moved with stylish correct action. Interested to see he is litter brother to 2nd in previous class.

POSTGRADUATE DOG. 15-1.

1. Gill & Marshall's CARRE D'AS DU MENUEL GALOPIN AT MIAMARNA (Imp):

Black & tan who I recall watching from ringside, then a very raw uncertain youngster when he first arrived on the UK show scene. My  this dog has come on. Greatly resembles his sire who I judged as a youngster; he has a lovely head & expression & that natural head carriage. he is well made throughout, everything comes together once he  collects himself and gets into his stride in movement, I feel he   is an "outside ring dog" and the  noises at Crufts unsettled him at times but once he  relaxed and with his expert handler navigating him around the ring he soon showed exactly  how   functional he is. Very promising young dog with a bright future, given that element of luck. I was interested to see that his "French" litter sister took RCC  top honours in the bitch ring.

2.Cominelli 's WAY UP KING CRIMSON (ATC)

This   eye catching young black & cream dog has great ring presence & another who caught my eye from the start with his flowing  effortless ground consuming   movement, when I asked his handler to  gait him at a slightly slower speed  he looked even better, demonstrating  form to function. Another well constructed dog, he presented a lovely outline in profile.  He has a beautiful head, eye & expression; excellent body proportions, big feet, he really looked the part. He was expertly handled to get the very best from him. I liked this dog very much. Would be interested to know more about his breeding.

3. King's WILBUS MITHRAS AT KINPAJA.

B/masked gold of a smaller frame to above but yet another lovely dog of quality who had much appeal, particularly   his sound movement. Perhaps not the panache of the 2 above him in ring presence but a sound honest dog who is well made throughout  & of a type that  appeals greatly , put down in excellent  bloom & condition and  I later found he was litter brother to my  RCC winner.

MID -LIMIT DOG  18-1

competition was really hotting up now.

Simpson & Fitzgerald's  NELIAPILAN JAAKKO-KULTA AT TAJIKH (Fin Imp):

Masked golden dog  who presents a  balanced outline in profile when stacked with no exaggeration in his body proportions; yet another who comes into his own once he  gets into his stride & moves out  purposefully & freely with reach & drive.The more I asked  of him the  better he got even if it was a bit hard on his handler!   Lovely head & expression.He holds his head proudly, presented in excellent bloom & body condition.

 2. Wilkinson's JAHADI EXUS:

Another smaller framed dog in body proportions, a black & silver  youngster who greatly appealed with his sound co-ordinated movement, gaited at a correct pace he showed reach & drive with light springy action. I especially love his facial markings, dark eye of correct shape & expression. He was presented in hard condition with correct body weight, big feet & a ring tail completed the picture.

3. Drage's SARAKHAN SIROCCO..

Larger in frame this  lovely red  all masculine classic dog with his profuse coat was another who scored on breed type; still very immature & playful at 3 yrs of age he has plenty of time to show his full potential  and one could expect this in his  predominently English blood lines. Once he gets his act together he again shows  excellent  drive  from his strong well muscled and angulated rear quaters  & frontal reach. I would expect him to continue to improve, one of an excellent litter, his brother won the CC & another brother caught my eye in the strong PG class.

LIMIT DOG. 14-1.

Super class, inevitably good ones went out, little separated the first 5,just personal preferences .

1. Busby's WILBUS MIDAS. JW. What a lovely dog this is to get your hands on, he is so beautifully made & very much of a classic English type that has so much appeal for me, I wrote in my rough notes, a type we must NEVER lose. I know this dog can sometimes display the typical Afghan stubborn & indifferent attitude  in the ring but today  it was  as if HE knew that this was THE show where he really should demonstrate his many virtues in his ring performance & he did not put a foot wrong .He has a lovely balanced head shape with a good strong jaw, strength & length to neck, into a well laid shoulder with length of blade. Front firm with legs well tucked under the body,& correct slope to front pasterns;  good depth & ribbing, strong hard loin,  no exaggeration in his rear angulation with  strong   second thigh  muscle, all comes together when he moves effortlessly  around the ring, no flash & dash, just a sound  correctly moving dog.  He did more than enough to take the class and could not be denied the RCC today. He seemed to get better & better & when  gaited around  for the lap of honour  with the CC winner,at the end of judging he  showed  why he had done so well here today  obviously enjoying the limelight.. I hope he gets his crown.     

2. French's SUKESHI VILLAGE GOSSIP AT ZALMEERAH.: SHCM.

A most lovely  b/ masked gold  who I last judged  in 2006, how this dog has blossomed, he has now  got the body weight he needed and he  really filled my eye here today. He has a natural ring presence, with maturity. A  very houndy dog  with good body proportions; loved his head & expression, very familiar. Correct shoulder placement, depth to chest & well ribbed; strong loin. He has a natural saddle & bare pasterns under his profuse leg hair. He moved with soundness, a purposeful gait . lovely dog.

3. Kirwan's EDRIS-EL-SHARIAT AT PADAKI.(Imp)  Really lovely red dog so typical of his  ancestry; he  has such arrogance in his  attitude &  head carriage, looks at and through you, a real male, with such presence. This is another very well made dog overall who moves   with a steady purposeful stride  at the correct pace. Yet another dog that the breed needs in retaining much  of  the  essential  character  that makes  the  AFGHAN AFGHAN in setting it apart from just a  generic showing dog.

OPEN DOG: 20-5

What a class...WOW!

1.Pascoe's CH SARAKHAN SENATOR. Outstanding dog of classic breed type. I have liked the look of this dog from the ringside so was delighted to get an opportunity to examine him closely and he more than fulfilled my expectations. An upstanding black & silver he is all male, he presents such a classic picture . Lovely balanced outline with no exaggerations. His body proportions all fit; good long lean head with strong jaw, super eye & expression, excellent head carriage. Another where my hands just flowed over his clean outlines, each part fitting into the next with ease. He moved out with  purpose & another who seemed to stride out even  better the more he was asked to gait around the ring with his head held so proudly & his ring tail carried at the correct level. It gave me great pleasure to send this dog as my  CC winning representative into the  challenge for the BOB award & for him to take the BOB , over the lovely feminine CC winning  bitch  on the referee’s decision;  A  worthy  representative for our breed in the Hound group & a worthy Champion who I feel as a young dog still has a lot more to offer. It was very rewarding for me as a judge to have given this dog's dam a CC and my congratulations to his  breeders on maintaining such classic  type.

2.Greechan's CH/CHI CH RASHD EBN HUGO VON HAUSSMAN AT MYHALSTON (Imp CHL)

Black & brindle, quality dog of a more compact & slightly  smaller in stature type who had much appeal .He is so very typical of his  breeding. For those who remember my CH  Nijinsky it will be all too obvious why this  dog  appealed so much to me. He is such a balanced and well made dog, you really have to examine this dog to appreciate just how good he is beneath all that  coat.  He has a good balanced head, strong jaw & oh that eye & expression , so reminiscent. He carries his head well &  he moves with  drive from his  strong rear quaters, striding  out with enthusiasm & verve & some dog to keep up with. One minute so proud in his stance the next he is acting the clown .A dog with a lot to offer the breed  if used with care. 

3.Lancashire's CH DRISHAUN DECLAN JW.SCHM. A real classic hound so typical of the type preserved by this kennel & of a type that I much admire. I judged this dog as a youngster & liked him then but how he has improved in body development with maturity and is now a most worthy title holder. A lovely dog in profile & so balanced. He moves  soundly & true & was presented in  great bloom. Yet another dog who retains the breed essentials and we must not lose this type of dog.

 Good Citizen Dog 4.

1.METEWAND CABANGO SCHM.

2JAHADI EXUS.

3.ZANDAHAR VANILLA FUDGE AMONG DACHALUNE.

SYLVIA EVANS Judge.